Remote indicator for dispensing pumps



M y 1943 M. A. CROSBY 2,319,444

RE MOTE INDICATOR FOR DISPENSING PUMPS Filed Jan. 25, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 attorneys May 18, 1943 M. A. CROSBY REMOTE INDICATOR FOR DISPENSING PUMPS Filed Jan; 23, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IEF.

lm/anier NH Vl/V/l. (F0557 fittornzys May 18, 1943 M. A. CROSBY 2,319,444

REMOTE INDICATOR FOR DISPENSING PUMPS Filed Jan. 25, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet s Illa-r5 Akkornqa 13, 1943 M. A. CROSBY 2,319,444

REMOTE INDICATOR FOR DISPENSING PUMPS Filed Jan. 23, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet. 4

' Inventor Mil W/VA. (W055) Attonnzys Patented May 18, 1943 UNITED" STATES IPATEN T OFFICE I REMOTE INDICATOR FOR DISPENSING PUMPS Melvin A. Crosby, Dayton, Ohio, assignmto The Dayton Pump and Manufacturing Company,

Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January as, 1940, Serial No. 315,221

4 Claims.

nected and arranged that the quantity otgasoline or liquid fuel dispensed by the pump is accurately shown on the remote indicator.

Another object is to provide a liquid dispensing pump means utilizing a Selsyn or self-synchronizing motor generator system for accurately indicating the amount of fluid dealt out remotely from the dispensing apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to devise a gasoline dispensing system comprising remote indicators which are so positioned that the operator of the vehicle being serviced with fuel such as gasoline can readily observe the amount of gasoline dispensed into the storage tank of the vehicle without the necessity of getting out of the conveyance or being otherwise inconvenienced.

Another object is to provide an improved gasoline dispensing pump system ofthe character mentioned wherein the pump and meter mecha nism of the system is placed under the ground with only the liquid dispensing means and indicator mechanism disposed above the ground.

These and other objects will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the servicing of an automobile at a service station utilizing the remote indicator system of this inand remote indicator means for use for servicing a plurality of automobiles; Y Figure 5 is a vertical cross sectional view. partly in elevation, showingthe construction of the pumps and remote indicator system illustrated in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view of the friction clutch mechansm utilized for permitting the resetting of the indicator means to zero readin 7 Figure 7 is an elevation view, partly in section, illustrating a gasoline dispensing station arrang'ement wherein two separate fluid dispensing units are supplied by a common pump and meter --'means disposed therebetween and provided with remote indicators;

'Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevation view,'

partly in section, illustrating a modified combined clutch and electrical switch mechanism operable by removal and replacement of the hose nozzle on its support.

General arrangement Referring to the drawings in detail, there is illustrated in Figure 1 an automobile designated 10 being serviced with gasoline from the dispensing pump, generally designated II, at the rear of the car. The amount of gasoline dispensed is indicated by the indicator l2 which is suitably placed so as to be readily observed by the driver iii of the automobile while seated in driving position. The remote indicator i2 is conveniently positioned forward from the dispensing pump unit ll and can be viewed by the service man as well as the operator of the automobile. Preferably the remote indicator I2 is fixed as shown, but may if desired be arranged so as to be portable.

Dispensing apparatus unit The construction of the dispensing pump means and remote indicator mechanism is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 and comprises a pumping unit generally designated l5. The construction' of this type of pump which forms no part of this invention is disclosed and claimed in Letters Patent 2,149,602, granted March '7, 1939. The pump is installed through the opening of the top of an underground storage tank I6. Preferably a centrifugal pump is used, as illustrated in Figure 3. Use of a centrifugal pump eliminates priming and air separating devices. The impeller ll of the centrifugal pump is disposed at the bottom within the storage tank.

- and'is directly connected to the motor i8 by means of a shaft l9 and column 20. Motor i8 is mounted in a small, water-tight compartment which is located immediately above the underground storage tank l6.

As illustrated in-Figures 2 and 3, operation of the pump forces fluid dispensed, such as gasoline, under pressure upward from the foot valve 2! at the bottom of the tank, out through the conduit 22. meter 23, pipe 24, hose 25 and nozzle 26 of the disp nsing unit. The dispensing apparatus I I is mounted on top of the ground and the hose nozzle 26 is supported, when not in use, on the hook 29 formed on the end of lever 30. This lever is pivotally mounted to the housing 32 of the dispensing apparatus II, as shown at 33 in Figure 2. Centrally arranged in the housing 32 is a vertical shaft 35 which is operably connected to the hose support lever 30 as at 36 and is shifted axially by movement of the lever 30.

Upward movement of the lever 30 and shaft 35 is eifected by means of the spring 3'1, when the hose nozzle 28 is removed from the hook 29. The weight of the hose 25 and attached nozzle 26 supported on the hook 2s normally maintains the lever 30 and shaft 35 in lowermost position against the tension of the spring $1. At the upper end of the shaft 35 the member 60 slidably supports the shaft, and a collar M adjustably mounted on the outer end of the shaft 35 maintains the shaft fixed to the member 40, as shown in Figure 2.

Crank means 43 is mounted on the pump unit adjacent the hose support 29 whereby the service attendant can return the indicating mechanism to zero reading. This i accomplished by turning the crank 43 so as to rotate the shaft 35 in reverse direction by means of the bevel gearing 45 and d6. When the hose nozzle 2c is resting on the hook 29, gear 45 and 65 are in mesh so that the shaft 35 can be rotated by the crank 63 to reset the indicator mechanism. Upon removing the hose from the hook the spring 37 raises the lever 30 and attached shaft 35 disenaging the bevel gears 65 and d6 preventing interference intentionally or otherwise with the operation of the indicator mechanism during dispensing of fluid.

The lower end of the shaft 35 is suitably arranged to actuate a snap switch 48 to start and stop the pump motor i8, as illustrated in Figure 2. Slidably fixed on the shaft 35 in the elongated keyway 69 is a bevel gear 50 which is in mesh with gear fixed on the shaft 52. The bevel gears 50 and 5| are suitably supported by means of member 53 mounted on the housing of the motor l8. Rotation of the shaft 35 is eflected during the dispensing operation by rotation of the bevel gear 5! which is driven through the bevel gears 54 and 55. The latter gear is keyed to the armature shaft 56 of the Selsyn generator 58 and is driven by the shaft 59 of the fiuid meter 28 upon flow of gasoline through the meter.

A friction clutch means 60 is arranged between the shafts 58 and 50 to permit reverse rotation of the generator armature shaft 56 and resetting of the indicator mechanism to zero reading. In

. Figure 3 a modified clutch means 6! is illustrated wherein suitable leverage means is used for coacting with the hose nozzle support lever 30 to engage or disengage the clutch.

Remote indicator mechanism The indicator mechanism comprises a Selsyn trlcally connected similar to three-phase induc- 75- tion motors, but have shuttle-wound rotor S1 and S2, respectively, with definite poles whose windings are connected to a single-phase alternating current source R, as shown in the diaand wherein the dispensing pump units 18 and it are provided with remote indicators i5 and i8, respectively. In this instance the meters Ti and it of the dispensing units are supplied with fluid through the common conduit 00 which is supplied with gasoline pumped from the storage tank Bl by the pumping unit 82 as shown in Figure 5. This pumping unit is preferably a centrifugal pump similar to that illustrated in Figure 3. The remote indicator means 15 and 18 are operated by means of the Selsyn generators 84 and 85 which are electrically connected to the respective remote motors 06 and 81 of the remote indicators 15 and 16. The Selsyn generators at and 85 are connected through the respective bevel gearing 08 and 09 so as to be mechanically driven by the meter shaft means 90 and 9|, re-

spectively. In thi construction a friction clutch is also provided between the meter shafm so and Si and bevel gearing at and 8d so as to permit resetting of the indicator mechanism.

Friction clutch construction The friction clutch mechanism is preferably constructed as illustrated in Figure 6, wherein the meter shaft generally designated 9t driven by the fluid meter generally designated is provided with friction disc drive means 96 for rotating the bevel gear 97 loosely mounted on the upper end of the shaft 95. Bevel gear 01 meshes with the bevel gear 98 which rotates the rotor armature of the generator in the Selsyn indicator system, and the gear 91 is suitably retained on the shaft by means of the collar I00. A ratchet and pawl means i0! and I02 are arranged on the meter shaft 94 so as to permit rotation of the shaft in only one direction. The friction discs 96 are urged together by means of the spring I04 which is suitably disposed around the shaft 94 and rests on the top of the ratchet wheel I 0|. Tension in the spring I04 is such that the operator is able to rotate bevel gearing 91 and 98 by turning the resetting crank 43, but backward rotation of the meter shaft 94 s prevented by the ratchet and pawl mechanisms I01 and I02. In this way the remote indicators as well as the indicators on the dispensing unit may be reset to zero after using the dispensing units.

Figure 7 illustrates another modified arrangement wherein there is illustrated a gasoline dispensing station provided with two separate fluid dispensing units I06 which utilize a, common pump and meter means I08 and I09, respectively. Fluid being dealt out is pumped from an underground storage fluid container H0 through the meter l09 into the common pipe line I II which is connected to the hose 25 and nozzles 26 of the dispensing units I06. In this construction the common pump and meter means, as well as all the mechanically operated mechanism, is suitably mounted in a pit I I 2 above the storage tank 0. A Selsyn generator 3 is electrically connected to the Selsyn motors H8 positioned in the which are similarly driven as the indicator means lit disposed in the dispensing units so as to provide remote indicators for showing the amount of fluid dispensed from the units I04.-

. In Figure 8 a modified friction clutch, resetting means and nozzle control mechanism are illustrated which are preferably used in the pumping unit construction illustrated in Figure 7. In this construction the hose nozzle 26 is arranged to berested on the outer end of the lever I22 which is pivoted in the upper part of the dispensing unit as illustrated at I23 and is adapted to move vertically in the slot I24. Spring means I2! is arranged to urge the lever I22 to move in a clockwise direction about the pivot I23 and there is attached adjacent the spring a rod means I21. connected to operate the electric switch I23 disposed in the waterproof box I29.

Suitable leads I30 are connected through the switch to the motor pumping unit. For operating the clutch means I32 there is provided a lever I33 which is fastened to the rod I21 and adapted to reciprocate in the slot I34. The lever I33 is pivoted as at I35 and is adapted upon downward movement of the rod I2'l to permit spring I33 to engage the cone shaped friction clutch means I" with the opposed friction cone means I33.

Integral with the friction clutch means I33 is the bevel gear I40 which members are keyed to the shaft I42 and are slidably mounted thereon ,so as to be moved vertically against the spring controlling the operation or said motor, a meter, indicator means and resetting means therefor. the combination with a movable fluid dispensing conduit member of means comprising a pivoted lever for supporting said conduit member, said pivoted lever being operable by removal of said conduit from said supporting means to swing about its pivot and drivingly connect said indicator mechanism with said meter whereby the indicator is actuated in response to the liquid passed through said meter, said pivoted lever having means operatively connected thereto and shiftable to disconnect said resetting mechanism and close said electrical switch to start said motor driven pump immediately upon removal of said fluid conduit member from said support, and last mentioned means comprising a rod and clutch shifting member, said member being opergear I44, thereby disengaging the resetting mechanism. It will be understood that the spring I34 will be of sumcient strength to overcome the pressure of spring I43. The rotation of the shaft I42 actuates the indicator mechanism I43 and moves the indicator hand I43 over the dial I50. At the same time the remote indicators are operated through the Selsyn motor connections.

The remote indicator mechanism of this invention is adapted to be used with price computing liquid dispensing pumps, as illustrated in Figure'l, as well as in non-computing dispensing units.

The operation of the dispensing units and remote indicators will be readily understood from the above description and further explanation is deemed unnecessary.

It will be understood that this invention is not I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a fluid dispensing mechanism including a atively connected to said rod and operable to engage and disengage the clutch to operatively connect the meter to the indicating mechanism.

2. In a liquid dispensing system, liquid dispensing means, a pump connected therewith for supplying fluid under pressure to said dispensing means, a meter, indicator means operatively connected to said meter for registering the amount of liquid dispensed, a motor for driving said pump, electrical switch control means for initiating the operation of said motor to operate said pump, said dispensing means comprising a movable hose and nozzle means connected t said meter, means comprising a reciprocable lever for supporting said hose, means comprising an axially shiftable rod operatively connected to said reciprocable lever whereby upon the removalof said hose and nozzle from the support electrical switch connection is made for starting the operation of said pump, and additional means comprising a pivoted lever operatively connected through said shiitable rod to said hose support means for clutching and declutching said indicator means to operatively connect said meter means during the operation of said dispensing system and render the same inoperative upon the return of said hose .to its supp rt. a

3. In a liquiddispensing system, a tank for storing liquid underground, a pit arranged thereabove, liquid flow establishing means arranged in said pit and connected with said storage tank and adapted to withdraw liquid therefrom, liquid meter means disposed in said pit and connected to the outlet side of said flow establishing means,

motor driven pump, electrical switch means for an indicator associated with said meter means,

means comprising a delivery hose and nozzle arranged to be supported above the ground and and means operated by said yieldable support for automatically rendering said indicator return mechanism inoperative when the nozzle is removed from said support. 1

g 4. In a liquid dispensing system, a tank for storing liquid, liquid flow establishing means and a delivery hose and nozzle operatively connected with said tank for withdrawing liquid therefrom and dispensing it through said delivery hose and nozzle, means comprising a liquid meter connected tosaid flow establishing means and said delivery hose means, and an indicator connected with said meter, means comprising a generator 5 driven by-said meter and a remotely located motor operated thereby, an indicator associated with said motor for accurately indicating the amount oi liquid dispensed through said delivery hose and nozzle, interlocking means operable from 10 tive.

MELVIN A. CROSBY. 

